Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Kenai/Prince William Sound Superintendent Jack Blackwell fields questions about the Kasilof River Drift Boat Retrieval project at the Gilman River Center on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Construction of Kasilof boat retrieval to begin this summer

Efforts to build a public takeout facility on the lower Kasilof River began in 2011

Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Kenai/Prince William Sound Superintendent Jack Blackwell fields questions about the Kasilof River Drift Boat Retrieval project at the Gilman River Center on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
R/V Sikuliaq research crew in the Gulf of Alaska, July 2022. (Photo by Emilie Springer)

From the plankton to the aurora

Northern Gulf of Alaska Summer Research Cruise: R/V Sikuliaq, July 7-27, 2022.

R/V Sikuliaq research crew in the Gulf of Alaska, July 2022. (Photo by Emilie Springer)
Snowshoers talk with Ranger Leah Eskelin during a December snowshoe walk at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.  (Photo by Catie Shelden)

Refuge Notebook: Take it from the hare, snowshoes are the way to go!

The holidays are behind us, but there is still a whole lot of winter ahead. I love the rush and excitement of the early winter… Continue reading

Snowshoers talk with Ranger Leah Eskelin during a December snowshoe walk at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.  (Photo by Catie Shelden)
Neldon Gardner speaks while being inducted to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame following the duel wrestling meet on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Look for the good in things’

When I think of Neldon Gardner, who said after the state tournament Dec. 17 that he would be stepping down as head coach of the… Continue reading

Neldon Gardner speaks while being inducted to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame following the duel wrestling meet on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Sunset views of snow-covered Kenai Mountains and the far eastern section of Skilak Lake. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Changing winters bring new conservation challenges

Like most everyone here in Southcentral Alaska, much of my leisure time and a good bit of my otherwise normally encumbered time during the last… Continue reading

Sunset views of snow-covered Kenai Mountains and the far eastern section of Skilak Lake. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/USFWS)
A tree decorated by the Kenai Peninsula Outdoor Club is seen on the Moose Loop at Tsalteshi Trails on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Deck the ski trails

Festive skiers have a little longer to bring holiday spirit to Tsalteshi Trails

A tree decorated by the Kenai Peninsula Outdoor Club is seen on the Moose Loop at Tsalteshi Trails on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, near Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
The snowshoelike feet of the lynx makes it well suited for traveling over snow. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Snow — good or bad for wildlife? It depends

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas and has been since the big storm that arrived a few weeks ago, dumping between 2 and… Continue reading

The snowshoelike feet of the lynx makes it well suited for traveling over snow. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/USFWS)
Jake Dye’s “Mostly Invincible” Toyota 4Runner sits outside The Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, still indomitable. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Really cold

At a certain point below zero degrees, I’m not so sure I can tell the difference anymore. Anything below zero may as well dispense with… Continue reading

Jake Dye’s “Mostly Invincible” Toyota 4Runner sits outside The Peninsula Clarion offices in Kenai, Alaska on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, still indomitable. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Michael Armstrong poses at his desk in February 2015 at the Homer News in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by McKibben Jackinsky)

Out of the Office: So long, and thanks for all the cookies

Like many things in life, I didn’t intend to stay at the Homer News for 23 years and six months. When I first started working… Continue reading

Michael Armstrong poses at his desk in February 2015 at the Homer News in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by McKibben Jackinsky)
Riding out to explore a barrier reef. (Photo by Mark Laker/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: The benefits of being a naturalist

Looking at the 2-plus feet of snow on my deck, I can’t help thinking about my opportunity to visit Fiji this past summer. Since I… Continue reading

Riding out to explore a barrier reef. (Photo by Mark Laker/USFWS)
Papers are in at the Homer News building on Thursday, Dec. 1 in Homer. (Photo by Charlie Menke / Homer News)

Out of the Office: In the Office

For my last out of the office story, I am going to bring you into the office with a short description of the Homer News… Continue reading

Papers are in at the Homer News building on Thursday, Dec. 1 in Homer. (Photo by Charlie Menke / Homer News)
Forests surrounding the Kenai River. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Expect the unexpected

Climate change is changing conservation. We used to set goals and objectives around returning to historical conditions, a time when people’s impact on land, water… Continue reading

Forests surrounding the Kenai River. (Photo by Lisa Hupp/USFWS)
Downtown Seward on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Something about Seward

There’s something magical about Seward. It’s more than the quaintness of a sleepy seaside town and more than the million-dollar views of Resurrection Bay. It’s… Continue reading

Downtown Seward on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A great horned owl sits in a tree. (USFWS/Colin Canterbury)

Refuge Notebook: Finding perfection in the imperfect

The new snow brought our refuge manager outside for a morning walk

A great horned owl sits in a tree. (USFWS/Colin Canterbury)
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Out of the Office: On Andrews’ legacy

I thought it would be appropriate to rerun my column, originally published on June 5, 2001

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Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Free parking at Alaska State Parks the day after Thanksgiving

The move aims to encourage Alaskans to get outside during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend

Cook Inlet is seen from Clam Gulch State Recreation Area on Feb. 7, 2020, in Clam Gulch, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
Freshwater invertebrates after processing in a kitchen blender. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)

Invertebrates recover at Miller Creek

Just over a year ago, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game applied the pesticide rotenone to two lakes and a stream in the remote… Continue reading

Freshwater invertebrates after processing in a kitchen blender. (Photo by Matt Bowser/USFWS)
Two roses washed up with the tide on the Homer Spit on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

Out of the Office: Finding grace on the beach

Last Monday while walking the Homer Spit beach I came across two red roses and a scattering of petals that had washed up on the… Continue reading

Two roses washed up with the tide on the Homer Spit on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Invasive green crab. (Photo by Ryan Munes, USFWS)

Crabby about invasive green crabs

They’re described as one of the biggest threats to Alaska’s marine environment, and you’ve probably never heard of them. This year, they were found in… Continue reading

Invasive green crab. (Photo by Ryan Munes, USFWS)
The sun rises over the mountains on the Sterling Highway on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, outside of Sterling, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: Deep breath, long drive

I’ve made the drive between Soldotna and Anchorage probably hundreds of times, including twice a week for a large part of the last two years… Continue reading

The sun rises over the mountains on the Sterling Highway on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, outside of Sterling, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)